Disposable seal and lock foil beverage pouch and the operating machinery to manufacture such product

ABSTRACT

A fillable, sealable, disposable container for storing, transporting and consuming a liquid, such as an individual beverage serving; the container having opposed front and a back walls, joined along their opposed sides, each wall also having an upper portion, defining an opening for filling the container, and a lower portion, connecting the lower portions of the front and back walls, for stabilizing the container for filling, and a sealable fluid-tight liquid retaining seal about said opening, for sealing the upper portion of the front and back walls, and means for creating a hole in the front wall of the container, for extracting the liquid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application No.60/686,723, filed Jun. 1, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fillable, sealable container for afixed amount of a liquid, such as a serving of a beverage; and themachinery for manufacturing such a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Individual servings of beverages, such as juices, are sold in disposablepouches or boxes, ideal for storing, transporting and/or consuming thesingle serving of the beverage. The pouches, which are made offluid-impervious laminar materials, are not re-usable. An example of thelaminar materials from which beverage pouches are currently beingmanufactured is constructed as follows, beginning with the outer layer:polyester film/printing ink/coating adhesive/metal foil/coatingadhesive/heat-sealable plastic (e.g., polyethylene) film. Such alaminate is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,583, which ishereby incorporated by reference.

Another example of the laminar materials from which such pouches aremanufactured is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,578 which is herebyincorporated by reference, is a plastic sheet, a metallic sheet or acomposite sheet composed of the former sheets; the plastic sheet isexemplified by polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polycarbonate ora nylon resin.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,144, which is hereby incorporated by reference,the fluid container pouch is described as comprising two opposingpliable sidewalls, formed of a composite material, such as apolypropylene ply having a barrier layer of aluminum foil, a metalizedcoating, or polyethylene vinyl alcohol, on at least one side of saidpolypropylene ply.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,069 describes a thin-walled pouch container made ofsynthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and similarflexible plastics susceptible to heat sealing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,914discloses beverage pouches constructed of aluminum/plastic laminatefoil. Indeed, most disposable beverage pouches are heat sealed alongtheir side walls, the plastic layers being used for heat sealing of thefront and back surfaces of the pouch as well as fluid imperviousness.These two references are, also, hereby incorporated by reference,

Access to the beverage in the pouch is typically achieved with a strawattached to the container, which may be separated from the container andused to pierce the pouch and sip the beverage. However, it is not easyto pierce the wall of a pouch constructed of multi-layer laminarmaterials. U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,514 discloses a method of making abeverage packaging bag comprising laminar panels of a combination ofpolyester film, polypropylene film, nylon film, cellophane, or aluminumfoil, capable of being readily pierced by a straw.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,233 to Kramer, et al. describes another method forcreating a piercing point in a container made of a plurality of layersof laminated material. One of the container walls is provided with apiercing point constructed by forming a depression in the exteriorsurface of the container wall. The depression does not penetratecompletely through the wall. The depression is surrounded by an annularring, which marks its location.

US 2003/0221393 A1 describes a conventional aluminum foil beveragecontainer which possesses a round hole provided at a top side face,which is covered with a thin film of aluminum, and which can be piercedby a straw.

A variety of closures for flexible storage bags and pouches have beendeveloped including the so-called profile closure having at least onepair of mating channels, an example of which may be seen in U.S. Pat.No. Re. 28,969 to Naito which shows the Zip-loc storage bag. U.S. Pat.No. 4,782,951 discloses embedding Ziploc on the inside surface of astorage pouch, by attaching interlocking closure strips or profiles oninside surfaces of said front and back walls, adjacent to the areas ofsaid front and back walls to become sealed after filling. No “strawholes” are provided in these storage pouches.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,683 B1 describes a pouch with front and back wallstack sealed together along a line proximal the top edge to releasablyclose the opening of the pouch. When the tack seal is broken, the frontand back walls may be separated from one another to open the pouch, andthe pouch resealed by pressing together the front and back walls overthe tack seal. Again, no “straw holes” are provided in these storagepouches. Recently, storage bags have been provided with a bottomsurface, making it possible to stand the pouch upright on a counter, andplace items/food to be stored through the sealable opening.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,591 discloses a pouch construction wherein carefullyplaced lines of deformation in the pouch create an opening at the top ofthe pouch, by merely applying pressure against the two opposed sides ofthe pouch, toward one another.

While these pouches are attractive and convenient, manufacturers andsellers of the pouches, the markup for the pouch is inordinately highconsidering the cost of the pouch and the beverage contained in thepouch.

One alternative to the disposable pouch is a reusable plastic containersuch as a sipper-cup construction. These alternative structures needrepeated washings, and, if constructed of plastic, may become discoloredand acquire an unpleasant smell. Another alternative is glasscontainers, which do not have these disadvantages, but bring the dangerand inconvenience of breaking.

It is an object of the present invention to provide fillable, sealable,containers for liquids, especially individual serving of a beverage. Itis a further object of present invention to make such a containerinexpensive and disposable. It is a still further object of theinvention to provide a “straw hole” in the container, for piercing thecontainer with a straw; and to provide a straw attached to thecontainer, or means for attaching a straw to the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects, as well as other objects which will become apparent fromthe discussion that follows, are achieved, in accordance with thepresent invention, the first embodiment of which comprises a fillable,sealable, disposable container, comprising opposed front and a backwalls of fluid impervious material, each wall having an upper portion,opposed side edges, and a lower portion, and a bottom wall between thelower portions of the front and back wall. In one preferred embodiment,the front and back walls are joined along the opposed side edges,leaving a liquid receiving opening between the upper portions of thefront and back walls. In another preferred embodiment, the upper portionof the back wall is folded over to overlap the upper portion of thefront wall, and the walls are joined along the opposed side edges, tocreate a pouch with a liquid receiving opening in the upper portion ofthe front wall. The pouch, or container, is provided with a sealablefluid-tight liquid retaining seal about said liquid receiving opening,for sealing a liquid portion, or serving, in the container. The pouch orcontainer is also provided with means for creating a hole in the frontwall of the container, beneath the upper portion of the front wall, forextracting the liquid through the hole, such as with a straw. The liquidreceiving opening maintains an effective pouring diameter, while thecontainer is supported on its bottom stabilizing surface.

The sealable fluid-tight liquid retaining seal may be a mating channelclosure, such as a Ziploc seal, or an adhesive seal on the insidesurface of the upper portion of at least one of the front wall and theback walls. The pouch or container may also be provided with aprotective secondary seal, comprising adhesive on the outside surface ofthe upper portion of the front wall, for attaching the front wall toitself about a fold in the upper portions of the front and back walls.

The bottom stabilizing surface may comprise a pleat in the connectingbottom wall, the sides of which are secured to each other, but not tothe side edges of the front and back walls, creating a two leggedgusset. Alternatively, the bottom stabilizing surface may comprise apleat in the connecting bottom wall, the edges of which are sealed tothe lower portion of the front and back walls, along their side edges.In still another embodiment, the bottom stabilizing surface is flatwall, such as an ovate blank. When the container is supported on itsbottom stabilizing surface the liquid receiving opening can remain open,maintaining an effective pouring diameter.

The pouch or container has means for creating a hole in the front wallof the container, such as an area of weakening in the front wall, belowthe liquid retaining means; or an opening in the front wall, below theliquid retaining means, with a removable tab forming a fluid-tight sealover the hole; or a circular mating channel closures in the tab andabout the hole.

The fillable, sealable, disposable containers of these embodiments ofthe present invention may be manufactured by providing a sheet of fluidimpervious material, comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; alength and a width, said width comprising the height of the front andback walls, and a generally rectangular connecting bottom wall. Thefollowing steps may be performed in any convenient order: a) reversefolding the connecting bottom wall on the center line, bisecting theheight of the bottom connecting wall, b) forward folding the sheet atthe line between the front wall and the bottom connecting wall, andforward folding the sheet at the line between the back wall and thebottom connecting wall, to form a pleat in the bottom connecting wall,c) bringing the inside surfaces of the front and back walls together,and aligning the side edges of the front wall and the back wall; d)providing a liquid retaining seal on the inside surface of the frontwall and the back wall; e) heat sealing the side edges of the pleat tothe side edges of front and back walls; f) heat sealing the side edgesof the front and back walls; and, g) creating a means for making a strawhole in the front wall, below the liquid retaining seal; to access thecontained liquid. The liquid retaining means may comprise a matingchannel closure or an adhesive closure, which may be provided withrelease means. The fluid retaining seal may be provided by securing anedging sheet of fluid impervious material, comprising a liquid retainingseal, along the width edges of the sheet. In an alternative method, theside edges of the pleat may be heat sealed, but not sealed to the sideedges of the front and back walls, creating a two-legged gusset. Inanother alternative method, the connecting bottom wall comprises agenerally ovate bottom stabilizing surface.

In another embodiment of the fillable, sealable, disposable pouch orcontainer for a liquid of the present invention, the container isprovided with a liquid receiving opening in the upper portion of thefront wall, comprising a mating channel closure. Such a container mayalso be provided with a secondary seal, as described above, and apleated, gusseted, or ovate, bottom stabilizing surface. Said liquidreceiving opening maintains an effective pouring diameter, while thecontainer is supported on its bottom stabilizing surface. In addition,the container may be provided with at least one score line traversingthe top channel of the mating channel closure, and/or at least one scoreline traversing the bottom channel of the mating channel closure, toincrease the effective pouring diameter of the opening. Such a containermay be manufactured by sealing a mating channel closure to the frontpanel, on the inner surface or the outer surface, preferably before thecontainer is fully formed. A line of weakening or perforations mayunderlie the closure, to aid in making the initial opening of theclosure.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should nowbe made to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of one embodiment of afillable, sealable pouch for a beverage serving, according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back of the syllable sealable pouchof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the right side view of the fillable, sealable pouch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the fillable, sealable pouch of FIG. 1,opened to be filled.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of thefillable, sealable beverage pouch of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a left side view of the beverage pouch of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6, is a right side view of another embodiment of the fillable,sealable beverage pouch of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front a perspective view of another embodiment of thefillable, sealable, disposable beverage pouch of the present invention,illustrating a generally ovate shaped, or tear-shaped, bottom surface.

FIG. 8 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the fillable,sealable beverage pouch of the present invention with a Ziploc, matingchannel closure in the front wall.

FIG. 9 is a left side view of the pouch of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a left side view of the pouch of FIG. 8, with the lowerportion of the liquid retaining means folded open to increase the liquidreceiving opening for filling the container.

FIG. 10A is a left side view of the pouch of FIG. 8, with the upper andlower portion of the liquid retaining means folded open to furtherincrease the liquid receiving opening for filling the container.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a sheet for forming the container of FIG.1.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a sheet for forming the container of FIG.8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1-12 of the drawings. Identical elements in thevarious Figures are designated with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 illustrates the front of the fillable, sealable pouch for abeverage according to the present invention, shown generally at 1. Theback of the pouch is illustrated in FIG. 2. The pouch comprises a frontwall, 2, with an upper portion, 2 a, and a lower portion, 2 b; and aback wall, 3, comprising an upper portion, 3 a, and a lower portion 3 b.The front and back walls have side edges, 4, which may be secured byheat sealing or adhesive, or a combination thereof. The front and backwalls are connected by connecting bottom wall, forming a bottomstabilizing surface, 5. The front and back walls, and the connectingbottom wall, are made of plastic and/or foil laminates.

A liquid receiving opening is created in the upper portion of the frontand back walls. A bottom stabilizing surface is formed by a generallyflat bottom wall, or a pleated or legged stabilizing surface, describedin detail below, enables the pouch to stand up, and the liquid receivingopening to maintain an effective diameter while liquid is poured throughthe opening, 9, in FIG. 4.

To seal the liquid in the pouch, a liquid-tight seal, such as the Ziplocclosure, or mating channel closure, shown at 8, in FIG. 3 may beprovided on the inside surfaces of the upper portion of the front andback walls. If desired, a secondary closure, 7, may be created byfolding the upper portion of the pouch along fold line, 10, and securingthe fold with an adhesive strip, 11, located on the outside surface ofthe upper portion of the front wall, above and or below the fold line,10. If the laminar material of the front and back walls make itdifficult to fold the top of the pouch, initial fold lines, 10 a in thefront wall, and 10 b, in the back wall may be scored during manufactureto facilitate folding to create the secondary seal.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mating channel closure, 8, comprises matingchannels, 8 a in the front wall, and 8 b in the back wall. In analternative construction, shown in FIG. 6, the initial fluid-tight sealmay comprise one or both adhesive surfaces, 16 a and 16 b, on the innersurface of the upper portions of the front and back walls.

Shown at 12 in FIG. 5 are means for creating a hole in the front wall ofthe pouch container, created by a hole, 15, in the front wall, beneaththe upper portion; and a removable tab, 14, temporarily, but firmlysecured over the hole, 15. To reduce liter, the tab may be permanentlysecured to the front wall at region, 13.

As shown in FIG. 5, either the front or back wall may be reinforced atlines, 25, generally perpendicular to the bottom surface, to assist inmaintaining the pouch in an upright position for filling. Also shown inFIG. 5 is an alternative form of the means for creating a hole in thefront wall of the container, comprising a circular mating channelclosure, 12′.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the bottom surface may be formed by apleat, 6, the edges of which maybe heat sealed to each other and to theside edges of the bottom portion of the front and back walls. Theinverted pleat created a stabile bottom surface for filling thecontainer. FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the bottomstabilizing surface, comprising a two-legged gusset, created by pleatingthe connecting bottom wall, and sealing the edges of the pleat to eachother, but not to the side edge of the lower portion of the front andback walls. FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative embodiment of thebeverage pouch container according to the present invention, in whichthe bottom stabilizing surface comprises a generally flat bottomsurface, 5′, comprising a generally ovate, or tear-shaped blank.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the fillable, sealable beveragepouch container of the present invention, wherein the upper portions ofthe front and back wall meet at a fold line or top seal, 17, and aliquid receiving opening, with a fluid-tight seal, such as a Ziplocclosure or mated channel closure 18 provided about the opening in theupper portion of the front wall. Opening the closure 18, permits one tofill the pouch with a liquid, and seal it therein with the fluid tightseal of the mated channel closure, 18. If desired a secondary seal maybe made by folding the upper portion of the front and back walls overthe front surface of the front wall and securing the fold with adhesivestrips, 19, and/or, 20, on the front wall, above and below the closure,18. Referring again to FIG. 8, the lower channel 18 a, may be providedwith a score line, 21, permitting the lower channel, 18 a, to be foldedat the score line, projecting the lower channel away from the frontwall, to increase the effective pouring diameter of the opening, asillustrated in FIG. 10. In addition, the lower channel, 18 b, may alsobe provided with a score line, 22, permitting the upper channel to befolded, so as to project inwardly of the front wall, further increasingthe effective pouring diameter of the opening, as illustrated in FIG.10A.

FIG. 11 illustrates a blank of fluid impervious material from which onecan form the container of FIG. 1. The upper surface of the blank willbecome the inner surface of the container, and whose lower surface willbecome the outer surface of the container. As illustrated in FIG. 11,the front wall 2, has an upper portion 2 a and a lower portion 2 b, andthe back wall 3 also has an upper portion 3 a and a lower portion 3 b.The blank also has a length, l, and a width, w. The width comprises theheight of the front and back walls, and the connecting bottom wall. Incontinuous high-speed production, it is anticipated that the blanks willbe cut from a continuous web of fluid impervious material running in thelengthwise direction. Cutting the blank from the running web creates theside edges 4.

To construct the container, the blank must be reverse folded along thecenter line, 26, of the bottom connecting wall, and forward folding thesheet at the line, 30, between the front wall and the bottom connectingwall, and forward folding the sheet at the line, 28, between the backwall and the bottom connecting wall; to form a pleat in the bottomconnecting wall, bringing the inside surfaces of the front and backwalls together, and aligning the side edges of the front wall and theback wall.

When the liquid retaining means is a line of adhesive, extendinglengthwise of the blank, it may be advantageously provided on the upper(inside) surface of the blank (container) before folding the blank. Tocomplete the container, the side edges must be sealed, preferably byheat sealing. Heat-sealing the side edges secures the pleat along theside edges of the lower portion of the front and back walls. Tofacilitate the user in creating a straw hole in the front wall, belowthe liquid retaining seal; the web may be scored, or otherwise providedwith a defined line of weakening, preferably before the web is folded.

If the liquid retaining seal is to be a mating channel closure, tocreate a re-closeable seal, an edging sheet of fluid imperviousmaterial, carrying one half of a mating channel closure may be providedalong one the length of the web, and the other half of the matingchannel closure provided on an edging sheet along the other length ofthe web, and the edging sheets secured to the lengthwise edges of theweb.

Similarly, if the straw hole is to be re-closeable, one half of a matingchannel closure may be provided and attached to the outer surface of thefront wall, 2, (under surface of the web), with the other half of themating channel closure preferably provided in atop the first half, andsecured thereto by closing the channel. The attachment is preferablydone after the web is folded along line 30, bringing the outer surfaceof the front wall to an “up” position.

In another embodiment of the container it may be desired to create atwo-legged gusset at the bottom surface, rather than a pleat. This maybe accomplished by heat sealing the side edges of the lower portion ofthe front and back walls to the edge between lines 26 & 30, and lines 28& 30, respectively. As with the pleat, this may be accomplished beforeor after the heat-sealing of the remainder of the side edges of thefront and back walls. In certain embodiments of the invention, it may bedesirable to provide a transparent material as at least a portion of theback wall. Preferably, a fill line may be provided at the transparentportion, to indicate the maximum height of liquid that can be easilysealed in the container by the fluid retaining seal.

FIG. 12 illustrates a sample blank for forming the container of FIG. 7.The blank may be folded and sealed as the blank in FIG. 11, to form thebottom stabilizing surface, however, the liquid receiving opening inthis container is not between upper portions of the front and backwalls, but in the upper portion of the front wall. The liquid retainingseal in this embodiment is a mating channel closure, such as a “ZipLock™ closure. A section of the mating channel closure may be attachedto the upper portion of the front wall, on either the inside surface(upper surface of the web) or the outside surface (underside of the web)of the front wall. Preferably a line of weakening is provided in thefront wall, along the section of the closure, and a midsection tab mayalso be provided to assist in opening the closure and creating theliquid receiving opening within the opened mating channel closuresection. The front and back walls must be secured, as by heat sealing,to form the container with opening in the upper front wall. As it may beadvantageous to perform these steps nearer the lengthwise edge of theweb, the lines, 26, 28 & 30 may be off-set toward the right edge of theweb, creating a flap, 32, between the top edge, 10, of the container,and the left edge of the blank. Following folding of the blank, the flap32 may be brought adjacent the upper portion of the front wall (insideor outside surface), and attached thereto, as by heat-sealing along theedge, 34, of the flap, 32.

It can be readily understood that the containers of the presentinvention will provide an inexpensive alternative to pre-packaged juiceboxes, generally considered to be manufactured for children. Thecontainer of the present invention will provide the convenience of aprepackaged drink for adults. This is of increasing importance as adultsincreasingly commute to work and/or school, and work “flex-hours”,requiring them to get meals away from home, on a train, in the car, andat odd hours. The container of the present invention can provide “a cupof milk” to pour into the makeshift cereal bowls made from boxes ofindividual servings of cereal. In addition, larger volume containers canbe used to supply the favorite sports drink, when needed, whether or nothe manufacturer had seen fit to so package the drink, and the localstore carries that size, or is open at the hour the container of favoredbeverage is desires. For many yet undiscovered uses, the container ofthe present invention may be used to substitute those beverages ofchoice, required for health maintenance, or for a particular diet, foradults or their children.

There has thus been shown and described a novel disposable seal and lockfoil beverage pouch; and the operating machinery to manufacture suchproduct which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefore.Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applicationsof the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilledin the art after considering this specification and the accompanyingdrawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All suchchanges, modifications, variations and other uses and applications whichdo not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed tobe covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claimswhich follow.

1. A fillable, sealable, disposable container for a liquid,comprising: 1) opposed front and a back walls comprising fluidimpervious material, each wall having an upper portion, opposed sideedges, and a lower portion; said walls joined along the opposed sideedges, and; 2) a bottom stabilizing surface, comprising a connectinglower wall, connecting the lower portions of the front and back walls;and 3) a liquid receiving opening between the upper portions of thefront and back walls; and 4) a sealable fluid-tight liquid retainingseal about said opening, for sealing the upper portion of the front andback walls, to retain the liquid portion in the container; and; 5) meansfor creating a straw hole in the front wall of the container, beneaththe liquid retaining seal in the upper portion of the front wall, forextracting the liquid through the straw hole; said liquid receivingopening maintaining an effective pouring diameter, while the containeris supported on its bottom stabilizing surface.
 2. A fillable, sealable,disposable container for a liquid, as in claim 1, wherein the sealablefluid-tight liquid retaining seal is a mating channel closure.
 3. Afillable, sealable, disposable container for a liquid, as in claim 2,further comprising a protective secondary seal, comprising an adhesivesealing line on the outside surface of the upper portion of the frontwall, for attaching the outer surface the front wall to itself, byfolding the upper portions of the front and back walls onto the frontwall and securing the fold with an adhesive seal.
 4. A fillable,sealable, disposable container for a liquid, as in claim 1, wherein thesealable fluid-tight liquid retaining seal is an adhesive sealing lineon the inside surface of the upper portion of at least one of the frontwall and the back wall.
 5. A fillable, sealable, disposable containerfor a liquid, as in claim 4, further comprising a protective secondaryseal, comprising an adhesive sealing line on the outside surface of theupper portion of the front wall, for attaching the outer surface thefront wall to itself, by folding the upper portions of the front andback walls onto the front wall and securing the fold with an adhesiveseal.
 6. A fillable, sealable, disposable container for a liquid, as inclaim 1, wherein the bottom surface comprises a two-legged gussetbetween the front and back walls, one portion of the gusset being sealedto the lower portion of the front wall, and another portion of thegusset being sealed to the lower portion of the back wall, along theirside edges.
 7. A fillable, sealable, disposable container for a liquid,as in claim 1, wherein the bottom surface comprises a pleat between thefront and back walls, sealed to the lower portion of the front and backwalls, along their side edges.
 8. A fillable, sealable, disposablecontainer for a liquid, as in claim 1, wherein the means for creating ahole in the front wall of the container comprises an area of weakeningin the front wall, below the retaining means.
 9. A fillable, sealable,disposable container for a liquid, as in claim 1, wherein the means forcreating a hole in the front-wall of the container comprises an openingin the front wall, below the retaining means, and a removable tabforming a fluid-tight seal over the hole.
 10. A fillable, sealable,disposable container for a liquid, as in claim 1, wherein the bottomsurface is an ovate blank.
 11. A fillable, sealable, disposablecontainer for a liquid, as in claim 1, wherein the back wall comprises atransparent fluid impervious material.
 12. A fillable, sealable,disposable container for a liquid, as in claim 11, further comprising afill line in the transparent fluid impervious material.
 13. A method ofmanufacturing a fillable, sealable, disposable container comprising: a)providing a sheet of fluid impervious material, comprising an innersurface and an outer surface; a length and a width, said widthcomprising the height of the front and back walls, and the connectingbottom wall, and, in any order, b) reverse folding the sheet on thecenter line of the bottom connecting wall, and forward folding the sheetat the line between the front wall and the bottom connecting wall, andforward folding the sheet at the line between the back wall and thebottom connecting wall, to form a pleat in the bottom connecting wall,bringing the inside surfaces of the front and back walls together, andaligning the side edges of the front wall and the back wall; c)providing a liquid retaining seal on the inside surface of the frontwall and the back wall; d) heat sealing the side edges of the pleat tothe side edges of front and back walls; e) heat sealing the side edgesof the front and back walls; and f) creating a means for making a strawhole in the front wall, below the liquid retaining seal; to access thecontained liquid.
 14. The method of claim 13 where step c) furthercomprises providing an edging sheet of fluid impervious material,comprising a liquid retaining seal, and securing the edging along thewidth edges of the sheet.
 15. The method of claim 13 where step f)comprises heat sealing the side edges of the pleat to each other to forma two-legged gusset.
 16. A fillable, sealable, disposable container fora liquid, comprising: 1) opposed front and a back walls comprising fluidimpervious material, each wall having an upper edge, opposed side edges,and a lower portion; said walls joined along the opposed side edges andthe upper edges, and; 2) a liquid receiving opening in the upper portionof the front wall, defined by the edges of a mating channel closure,which when closed creates a fluid-tight liquid retaining seal; and 3) abottom, stabilizing surface, connecting the lower portions of the frontand back walls; and 4) means for creating a straw hole in the frontwall, beneath the upper portion of the front wall, for extracting theliquid through the hole; said liquid receiving opening maintaining aneffective pouring diameter, while the container is supported on itsbottom surface.
 17. A fillable, sealable, disposable container for aliquid, as in claim 14, wherein the bottom surface comprising a gussetbetween the front and back walls, one portion of the gusset being sealedto the lower portion of the front wall, and another portion of thegusset being sealed to the lower portion of the back wall, along theirside edges.
 18. A fillable, sealable, disposable container for a liquid,as in claim 16, wherein the bottom surface comprising a pleat betweenthe front and back walls, sealed to the lower portion of the front andback walls, along their side edges.
 19. A fillable, sealable, disposablecontainer for a liquid, as in claim 16, further comprising a protectivesecondary seal, comprising an adhesive sealing line on the outsidesurface of the upper portion of the front wall, for attaching the outersurface the front wall to itself about a fold in the upper portions ofthe front and back walls.
 20. A fillable, sealable, disposable containerfor a liquid, as in claim 16, further comprising at least one score linetraversing the bottom channel of the mating channel closure.
 21. Afillable, sealable, disposable container for a liquid, as in claim 16,further comprising at least one score line traversing the bottom channelof the mating channel closure, and corresponding score lines in thebottom channel of the mating channel closure.
 22. A method ofmanufacturing a fillable, sealable, disposable container comprising: a)providing a sheet of fluid impervious material, comprising an innersurface and an outer surface; a length and a width, said widthcomprising the height of the front and back walls, and the connectingbottom wall, and, in any order, b) reverse folding the sheet on thecenter line of the bottom connecting wall, and forward folding the sheetat the line between the front wall and the bottom connecting wall, andforward folding the sheet at the line between the back wall and thebottom connecting wall, to form a pleat in the bottom connecting wallbringing the inside surfaces of the front and back walls together, andaligning the side edges of the front wall and the back wall; c)providing a liquid retaining seal on the upper portion of the frontwall; d) heat sealing the side edges of the pleat to the side edges offront and back walls; e) heat sealing the side edges of the front andback walls; and f) creating a means for making a straw hole in the frontwall, below the liquid retaining seal; to access the contained liquid.23. The method of claim 22, where step f) comprises heat sealing theside edges of the pleat to each other to form a two-legged gusset.